fatwa — A fatwa (from Arabic fatā ‘to instruct by a legal decision’) is a legal ruling given by an Islamic religious leader. It came dramatically to western attention in 1989 when by such a ruling Iran s Ayatollah Khomeini called for the death of the… … Modern English usage

fatwa — International, USA An opinion, ruling or pronouncement on Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar or Sharia Committee. A fatwa must be issued for an Islamic finance product or service to be considered Sharia compliant. Practical Law Dictionary.… … Law dictionary

fatwa — fat wa, fatwah fat wah, n. Same as {fetwah}. [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

fatwa — (n.) 1620s, from Arabic fetwa a decision given by a mufti, related to fata to instruct by a legal decision. Popularized 1989 when Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a ruling sentencing author Salman Rushdie to death for publishing The Satanic… … Etymology dictionary

fatwa — ► NOUN ▪ an authoritative ruling on a point of Islamic law. ORIGIN from Arabic, decide a point of law … English terms dictionary

fatwa — [fät′wä] n. [Ar] 1. Islam a religious and legal decree or edict issued by a council of religious leaders 2. loosely a death sentence imposed through, or as through, such a decree … English World dictionary